Inside the New York Yankees clubhouse with MLB.com beat writer Bryan Hoch.

Getting reacquainted with Javier Vazquez

Here’s some refresher info on Javier Vazquez, from the Yankees:

Vazquez, 33, went 15-10 with a 2.87 ERA (219.1IP, 181H, 70ER, 44BB, 238K, 20HR) with Atlanta in 2009, finishing fourth in National League Cy Young Award voting. He ranked second in the NL in strikeouts, strikeout-to-walk ratio (5.41) and opponents’ on-base percentage (.266); third in strikeouts per 9.0IP (9.77); tied for fourth in wins; fifth in innings pitched, opponents’ batting average (.223) and hits allowed per 9.0IP (7.43); and sixth in ERA. Over his final 22 starts of 2009, Vazquez posted a 2.49 ERA with 160 strikeouts and just 29 walks in 155.1IP, while limiting opponents to a .217 average.

Since 2000, he has recorded at least 10 wins and 150 strikeouts each season, making him just the 10th pitcher in Major League history to accomplish the feat according to the Elias Sports Bureau. Eight of the other nine pitchers are in the Hall of Fame. Over the same 10-year stretch, Vazquez ranks second in the Majors in innings pitched (2163.0), strikeouts (2001) and starts (327), while tossing at least 200.0 innings in all but one season (198.0 in 2004).

Originally selected by Montreal in the fifth round of the 1994 First Year Player Draft, Vazquez played his first six Major League seasons with the Expos from 1998-2003, compiling a 64-68 record with a 4.16 ERA (1229.1IP, 568ER). Prior to the 2004 season, he was traded to the Yankees in exchange for first baseman Nick Johnson, outfielder Juan Rivera and left-handed pitcher Randy Choate. In his lone season as a Yankee in 2004, Vazquez made the American League All-Star team, going 14-10 with a 4.91 ERA (198.0IP, 103ER). On January 11, 2005, he was traded with left-handed pitcher Brad Halsey, catcher Dioner Navarro and cash considerations to Arizona for left-handed pitcher Randy Johnson.

In a 12-year Major League career with Montreal, the Yankees, Arizona (2005), the White Sox (2006-08) and Atlanta, Vazquez owns a 142-139 record with a 4.19 ERA and 2,253 strikeouts. He is under contract through the 2010 season.

NoDigidee@aol.com, I think Cashman’s is on a roll. First, Nick Johnson is a descent DH with a high OBS which is important when you have a lineup such as ours. Second, the Vazquez deal is a great trade. I like Melky as much as the next Yankees fan, but we are getting a quality starter that will give us 15+ wins in the 3 spot and more importantly puts either Joba or Hughes, if not both, back in the pen.

I find it quite humorous that you describe Brett Gardner as “I can’t hit” and incapable of being the 4th OF. Don’t forget he was successful as the 4th in 09 and the stats contradict your quote: Gardner’s stats: .270 AVG and .345 OBS as compared to Melky’s .274 AVG and .336.

So what makes Melky too good to lose again? Was it because he was so good that he lost the starting position last spring to Gardner, or was it that he was so good he got it back only after Gardner broke his finger? He has a better arm than Gardner and has a marginally better offense, but that’s about it!

Don’t get me wrong, I really like Melky and hate to lose him, but he is not too good to walk away from a good trade like this one.

NoDigidee@aol.com, I think Cashman’s is on a roll. First, Nick Johnson is a descent DH with a high OBS which is important when you have a lineup such as ours. Second, the Vazquez deal is a great trade. I like Melky as much as the next Yankees fan, but we are getting a quality starter that will give us 15+ wins in the 3 spot and more importantly puts either Joba or Hughes, if not both, back in the pen.

I find it quite humorous that you describe Brett Gardner as “I can’t hit” and incapable of being the 4th OF. Don’t forget he was successful as the 4th in 09 and the stats contradict your quote: Gardner’s stats: .270 AVG and .345 OBS as compared to Melky’s .274 AVG and .336.

So what makes Melky too good to lose again? Was it because he was so good that he lost the starting position last spring to Gardner, or was it that he was so good he got it back only after Gardner broke his finger? He has a better arm than Gardner and has a marginally better offense, but that’s about it!

Don’t get me wrong, I really like Melky and hate to lose him, but he is not too good to walk away from a good trade like this one.

NoDigidee@aol.com, I think Cashman’s is on a roll. First, Nick Johnson is a descent DH with a high OBS which is important when you have a lineup such as ours. Second, the Vazquez deal is a great trade. I like Melky as much as the next Yankees fan, but we are getting a quality starter that will give us 15+ wins in the 3 spot and more importantly puts either Joba or Hughes, if not both, back in the pen.

I find it quite humorous that you describe Brett Gardner as “I can’t hit” and incapable of being the 4th OF. Don’t forget he was successful as the 4th in 09 and the stats contradict your quote: Gardner’s stats: .270 AVG and .345 OBS as compared to Melky’s .274 AVG and .336.

So what makes Melky too good to lose again? Was it because he was so good that he lost the starting position last spring to Gardner, or was it that he was so good he got it back only after Gardner broke his finger? He has a better arm than Gardner and has a marginally better offense, but that’s about it!

Don’t get me wrong, I really like Melky and hate to lose him, but he is not too good to walk away from a good trade like this one.

NoDigidee@aol.com, I think Cashman’s is on a roll. First, Nick Johnson is a descent DH with a high OBS which is important when you have a lineup such as ours. Second, the Vazquez deal is a great trade. I like Melky as much as the next Yankees fan, but we are getting a quality starter that will give us 15+ wins in the 3 spot and more importantly puts either Joba or Hughes, if not both, back in the pen.

I find it quite humorous that you describe Brett Gardner as “I can’t hit” and incapable of being the 4th OF. Don’t forget he was successful as the 4th in 09 and the stats contradict your quote: Gardner’s stats: .270 AVG and .345 OBS as compared to Melky’s .274 AVG and .336.

So what makes Melky too good to lose again? Was it because he was so good that he lost the starting position last spring to Gardner, or was it that he was so good he got it back only after Gardner broke his finger? He has a better arm than Gardner and has a marginally better offense, but that’s about it!

Don’t get me wrong, I really like Melky and hate to lose him, but he is not too good to walk away from a good trade like this one.

NoDigidee@aol.com, I think Cashman’s is on a roll. First, Nick Johnson is a descent DH with a high OBS which is important when you have a lineup such as ours. Second, the Vazquez deal is a great trade. I like Melky as much as the next Yankees fan, but we are getting a quality starter that will give us 15+ wins in the 3 spot and more importantly puts either Joba or Hughes, if not both, back in the pen.

I find it quite humorous that you describe Brett Gardner as “I can’t hit” and incapable of being the 4th OF. Don’t forget he was successful as the 4th in 09 and the stats contradict your quote: Gardner’s stats: .270 AVG and .345 OBS as compared to Melky’s .274 AVG and .336.

So what makes Melky too good to lose again? Was it because he was so good that he lost the starting position last spring to Gardner, or was it that he was so good he got it back only after Gardner broke his finger? He has a better arm than Gardner and has a marginally better offense, but that’s about it!

Don’t get me wrong, I really like Melky and hate to lose him, but he is not too good to walk away from a good trade like this one.

NoDigidee@aol.com, I think Cashman’s is on a roll. First, Nick Johnson is a descent DH with a high OBS which is important when you have a lineup such as ours. Second, the Vazquez deal is a great trade. I like Melky as much as the next Yankees fan, but we are getting a quality starter that will give us 15+ wins in the 3 spot and more importantly puts either Joba or Hughes, if not both, back in the pen.

I find it quite humorous that you describe Brett Gardner as “I can’t hit” and incapable of being the 4th OF. Don’t forget he was successful as the 4th in 09 and the stats contradict your quote: Gardner’s stats: .270 AVG and .345 OBS as compared to Melky’s .274 AVG and .336.

So what makes Melky too good to lose again? Was it because he was so good that he lost the starting position last spring to Gardner, or was it that he was so good he got it back only after Gardner broke his finger? He has a better arm than Gardner and has a marginally better offense, but that’s about it!

Don’t get me wrong, I really like Melky and hate to lose him, but he is not too good to walk away from a good trade like this one.

NoDigidee@aol.com, I think Cashman’s is on a roll. First, Nick Johnson is a descent DH with a high OBS which is important when you have a lineup such as ours. Second, the Vazquez deal is a great trade. I like Melky as much as the next Yankees fan, but we are getting a quality starter that will give us 15+ wins in the 3 spot and more importantly puts either Joba or Hughes, if not both, back in the pen.

I find it quite humorous that you describe Brett Gardner as “I can’t hit” and incapable of being the 4th OF. Don’t forget he was successful as the 4th in 09 and the stats contradict your quote: Gardner’s stats: .270 AVG and .345 OBS as compared to Melky’s .274 AVG and .336.

So what makes Melky too good to lose again? Was it because he was so good that he lost the starting position last spring to Gardner, or was it that he was so good he got it back only after Gardner broke his finger? He has a better arm than Gardner and has a marginally better offense, but that’s about it!

Don’t get me wrong, I really like Melky and hate to lose him, but he is not too good to walk away from a good trade like this one.

Let me say that Brian Cashman needs the ax. First Nick Johnson. Vazquez is not worth Melky straight up. Basically Vazquez matches up against Lackey. Need I say more? As of right now, Brett “I can’t hit” Gardner is the starting LF. Who’s the 4th OF? Even if the Yanks resign Damon or sign someone else for LF, that put Gardner as 4th OF. I’d rather have Melky in that role. Cashman gave up way too much for this retread!

Good move. I like that the Yanks are not sitting on their laurels. Would like to see them get one more decent outfielder in case Swisher swoons and Nady don’t pan out. Jason Bay is wish but not likely or maybe Andrew Jones if he can return to form. We have Gardner but he is a good backup. I wonder if they have someone in the minors that shows this spring.

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